public urination

[PLR_Rehab/Spine]

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So guys I need your opinion. A year ago I got a ticket for public urination ( a low er level misdemeanor in Illinois which is where I am from). I did not know this was a misdemeanor when I was doing my primaries. So now I wrote a letter to all my DO schools telling them about this....here is a copy of it

I am applying to your osteopathic medicine program for the term starting in the fall of 2011. I am writing to inform you of a municipal ordinance violation I had received in April 2009. It involved me going back to my college in the south side of Chicago via the train (Chicago Transit Authority). I was coming from the opposite side of town and was waiting to transfer trains. During this time I made the poor decision to urinate at the empty station in a deserted corner. I was consequently given a public urination ticket by the Chicago Police.

Apart from this, my record is free of any sort of criminal history. Even in the year after this incident I have been free of all legal trouble to date. This incident was really bad judgment on my part and I have learned from the experience to never do such an act again. I was unable to disclose this information on the primary application (AACOMAS) due to the nature of this municipal ordinance violation and the ambiguity in terms of the category in which it belongs. However I feel that it is my duty to inform the admissions committee of my past. Hence I am submitting this written explanation of the incident


- I obviously omitted my name portion of it for this thread. But i have a good overall app, 28 mcat 3.6 sgpa and 3.47 cgpa, a year and half of research with rec letter, three docs shadowed (one DO) with letter from the DO and a MD, leadership positions held, and started a couple of organizations at my school also. Plus my criminal history has nothing in it cept for this public urination. What do you guys think this will do to my app?

 

[DoctorBoom]

So guys I need your opinion. A year ago I got a ticket for public urination ( a low er level misdemeanor in Illinois which is where I am from). I did not know this was a misdemeanor when I was doing my primaries. So now I wrote a letter to all my DO schools telling them about this....here is a copy of it

I am applying to your osteopathic medicine program for the term starting in the fall of 2011. I am writing to inform you of a municipal ordinance violation I had received in April 2009. It involved me going back to my college in the south side of Chicago via the train (Chicago Transit Authority). I was coming from the opposite side of town and was waiting to transfer trains. During this time I made the poor decision to urinate at the empty station in a deserted corner. I was consequently given a public urination ticket by the Chicago Police.

Apart from this, my record is free of any sort of criminal history. Even in the year after this incident I have been free of all legal trouble to date. This incident was really bad judgment on my part and I have learned from the experience to never do such an act again. I was unable to disclose this information on the primary application (AACOMAS) due to the nature of this municipal ordinance violation and the ambiguity in terms of the category in which it belongs. However I feel that it is my duty to inform the admissions committee of my past. Hence I am submitting this written explanation of the incident


- I obviously omitted my name portion of it for this thread. But i have a good overall app, 28 mcat 3.6 sgpa and 3.47 cgpa, a year and half of research with rec letter, three docs shadowed (one DO) with letter from the DO and a MD, leadership positions held, and started a couple of organizations at my school also. Plus my criminal history has nothing in it cept for this public urination. What do you guys think this will do to my app?

Municiple ordinance violation =/= Misdemeanor. Therefore the question on the primaries that asks have you ever been CONVICTED of a felony or misdemeanor, ur answer should be no. I don't know how the law is in illinois but... to my knowledge I don't think u have to disclose ordinance violation.

 

[jm192]

I don't think they'll care. You took a leak outside. Half the population has done this.

 

[MiCasaMD]

You will be fine dude. Don't worry. I know someone in med school who was a stripper/escort and received a soliciting charge. 🙂 You haven't peed your career away. Now, just breath. 🙂

 

[PLR_Rehab/Spine]

doctorboom, it is def a misdemeanor in illinois ive checked and double checked

 

[swamprat]

are you sure its a misdemeanor ? Either/or I wouldn't have wrote anything to the schools I feel like thats just calling attention upon something that would otherwise be overlooked, its not like you stole something, got a dwi or some other poor-judgment act/decision that would make them question your professionalism and moral character.

 

[DoctorBoom]

doctorboom, it is def a misdemeanor in illinois ive checked and double checked

Hmm interesting. I also have a municipal ordinance violation (Loud music hence disturbing the peace) and I spoke to an attorney about it and he said it is not a misdemeanor. So when I asked him if i was legally correct to answer no on the AACOMAS primaries, he said absolutely. But different states have different laws so.. Im from new jersey. Some AAMC applicants complained about speeding tickets that were classified into misdemanor catagory... Stupid cops

 

[pennstate4life]

I think you will be fine as long as no one got hurt.

 

[kopitar]

I think you will be fine as long as no one got hurt.

You didn't injure anybody during the leak did you, doctor boom? The school may also ask for urine testing on the urine in question. Would you be able to go back to that corner for sampling if required?

In all seriousness any "criminal activity" that does not result in you being handcuffed and processed at your local station would not be considered, in my opinion, a blemish on your application. I think you made the right move sending the letter- shows honesty. Better you tell them then having them see it on your background check.

 

[Slane]

Public urination isn't going to bother the ADCOM's much--like somebody else said, everybody does it, you just happened to get caught (Kind of like speeding or running a stop sign.) Drug and alcohol or violent crime charges are what they'll be looking for in that section of the application--for those you better have a pretty good explanation. You'll be fine.

 

[PLR_Rehab/Spine]

thanks guys for all your opinions. I also think it shouldnt be a huge deal and the reason i sent the letter is so that I am officially honest and upfront about everything. I know this will show up on my background check for sure as a misdemeanor and i dont want it to hurt me later on just because i didnt wanna talk about it. Tho i still think it is a lil bit immature but since my record is clean otherwise it shud be all gud..

PS THIS IS IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR ALL!!!
-public urination is a big deal in some states, in fact i found out from my research that in some states u get listed as a sex offender and hence u can say bye bye to a medical career!!! luckily not illinois but watch out and look where u pee!

 

[JaggerPlate]

A few words of advice ...

1. Make sure to always answer every question honestly, but do not give away more information than you need to. Meaning, if a school asks you to list any felonies, don't say "I don't have any felonies, but I did blah, blah blah." You don't need to do this and you aren't being dishonest by doing so.

2. Find out exactly what it is in your state. If it's a misdemeanor, answer questions accordingly.

3. Be prepared for it to come up, because it will. Background checks honestly find everything. In our current technological age, it's just impossible to keep things like this hidden. It's too easy to access e-records, and everything is connected. Forget expungement, technicalities, etc ... it will come up.

4. When it does come up ... own up to it. The worst thing you can do is look like you were trying to hide something (knowingly) or play the victim. Explain that you made a mistake, you know what you did was wrong, you did X, Y, and Z, as a consequence, and you've grown up and realized that this behavior is unacceptable for a professional and is not indicative of your character.

 

[Isoprop]

speak with a lawyer.

 

[PLR_Rehab/Spine]

i dont personally see the need for one just a waste of money, not being cheap or anything. Ive already looked it up and this cannot be expunged but can be sealed later on. I see no harm in being straight up and honest. My credentials overall are good for DO schools and this is one and only "red flag" on my app. I dont think it ll hold me back from getting licensed one day. Im hoping the schools can honor my honesty and the fact that it was a mistake my only one on my record and it has been a year since and the fact that i understand it was a mistake made by me and wont and hasnt happened again.

 

[pennstate4life]

Some lawyers offer free consultations. I spoke to a lawyer about filing a restraining order against my step grandmother.

 

[BobBarker]

If you weren't handcuffed and booked, don't mention it. Most municipal courts don't report such violations, hence why speeding tickets and the like ticketed by local police don't show up in background checks.

 

[pennstate4life]

If you weren't handcuffed and booked, don't mention it. Most municipal courts don't report such violations, hence why speeding tickets and the like ticketed by local police don't show up in background checks.

if adcom asks you about it, just say your peepee is none of their business. You will be remembered forever.

 

[sharksRfriends]

If you weren't handcuffed and booked, don't mention it. Most municipal courts don't report such violations, hence why speeding tickets and the like ticketed by local police don't show up in background checks.

You can be arrested without being handcuffed and booked. I was charged with underage drinking and was never handcuffed or anything, but legally it can still be considered an arrest. And I was asked about it at every single interview. My charge was a misdemeanor as well.

 

[PLR_Rehab/Spine]

you obviously made it thru but do you think it was an obstacle for you if at all?

 

[Skippygonenuts]

i'm pretty sure after seeing your letter they'll just have a good laugh about it, say "haha this guy actually got caught peeing...poor guy", and then move on to looking at your stats and credentials to see if its good enough.

don't sweat it

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

While we're on the topic of Ordinance Violations... I've got a Noise Ordinance Violation from 3 years ago. What are the odds of that coming back and biting me on the fanny? It's a misdemeanor in Virginia by the way...

 

[DoctorBoom]

While we're on the topic of Ordinance Violations... I've got a Noise Ordinance Violation from 3 years ago. What are the odds of that coming back and biting me on the fanny? It's a misdemeanor in Virginia by the way...

You have to report it as yes on the primaries.... but since it was noise violation...i don't think people would really care. Its kind of sad how something so minimal can be classified into misdemeanor catagory in other states. I received noise violation (ordiance violation) as well, but in New jersey it is not catagorized into misdemeanor catagory. Is NJ the only state that does this??😕

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

You have to report it as yes on the primaries.... but since it was noise violation...i don't think people would really care. Its kind of sad how something so minimal can be classified into misdemeanor catagory in other states. I received noise violation (ordiance violation) as well, but in New jersey it is not catagorized into misdemeanor catagory. Is NJ the only state that does this??😕

Well I'm from VA, and apparently it's classified differently from city to city (or so it seemed when I spoke to the courthouse). Unfortunately in the city I received it in, they classified it as a misdemeanor.

I'm a bit uneasy that the AACOMAS primary that gets sent to schools simply says "Felony/Misdemeanor? YES" I just feel like they see that and it instantly gets placed in a separate stack for "bad seeds" or something...

The BS of the whole thing is that I was studying upstairs for a Gen Chem test and my roommates were partying in the basement during a game and they came to get me when the cops knocked because I was the only sober one. But I definitely owned up to it on all of my apps and said that we all received a noise ordinance violation for being too loud while watching a sporting event. Definitely don't want it to seem like I'm making an excuse.

 

[DoctorBoom]

Well I'm from VA, and apparently it's classified differently from city to city (or so it seemed when I spoke to the courthouse). Unfortunately in the city I received it in, they classified it as a misdemeanor.

I'm a bit uneasy that the AACOMAS primary that gets sent to schools simply says "Felony/Misdemeanor? YES" I just feel like they see that and it instantly gets placed in a separate stack for "bad seeds" or something...

The BS of the whole thing is that I was studying upstairs for a Gen Chem test and my roommates were partying in the basement during a game and they came to get me when the cops knocked because I was the only sober one. But I definitely owned up to it on all of my apps and said that we all received a noise ordinance violation for being too loud while watching a sporting event. Definitely don't want it to seem like I'm making an excuse.

Nah.. people get misdemanor for all sorts of things...like public urination. I would have more than 332320938034 misdemanors if i got caught each time. But, don't worry bout it... just fess up and if it comes up just don't make an excuse and say u got a noise violation. I mean... how bad could it look?? Im kinda getting worried now... what if mine was a misdemanor as well. 😕

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

Nah.. people get misdemanor for all sorts of things...like public urination. I would have more than 332320938034 misdemanors if i got caught each time. But, don't worry bout it... just fess up and if it comes up just don't make an excuse and say u got a noise violation. I mean... how bad could it look?? Im kinda getting worried now... what if mine was a misdemanor as well. 😕

Somehow I doubt it, VA is a very strict conservative state with all kinds of ridiculous laws. And Blacksburg (where I got the misdemeanor) is ALL ABOUT keeping it a friendly, family, clean, insert other positive 1950's adjective, environment. Definitely didn't surprise me that they considered it a misdemeanor.

Maybe I should just fill the rest of the "Why should we accept you?" questions out with a simple "'CAUSE I BRING THE RUCKUS TO YO SCHOOL SON, DIDN'T YOU READ MY MISDEMEANOR!?!?"

 

[jasminealladin]

hey
you should talk to a lawyer and get it ex-sponged like it never happened before. my friend had a similar situation and everything is good now. good luck

 

[paintballswimgu]

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